HC seeks opinion of Govt, Coast Guard on under water cameras at sea link

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has sought the opinion of the Centre and the Coast Guard on whether under water cameras can be installed along the Bandra-Worli sea link to enhance security around the area and to prevent incidents of suicides or other crimes around it.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Bharati Dangre directed today that the Centre and the Coast Guard be impleaded as parties to a PIL seeking better security arrangements at the sea link.

The PIL, filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar, alleges that the "sea link is fast becoming the favoured suicide spot for disheartened citizens,"and that there existed loopholes in the existing security arrangements.

On previous hearings, Tirodkar had sought that more security guards be employed and cameras be installed under water, and bomb detectors be used along the 4.8 km long stretch.

However, Prashant Sawant, the advocate for Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited, the authority responsible for maintenance of, and surveillance along the sea link, told HC that since 2014, when the PIL was filed, the security arrangements had been upgraded.

"86 CCTV cameras have been installed along the bridge.30 security guards remain deployed all along the stretch 24x7," Sawant said.

He, however, said that the Court's previous suggestion on installing 'travel through X-Ray scanners' to check against potential bomb threats couldn't be implemented.